The Federal Government has inaugurated a Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee to oversee major engineering and laboratory upgrades in Nigeria’s polytechnics, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening technical education, expanding hands-on training, and accelerating human capital development.
Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, described the intervention as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s economic transformation. He stated that no nation achieves sustainable growth without deliberate investment in education, skills development, innovation, and institutional capacity.
The Minister explained that under the second phase of the Skills-G programme, the Federal Government will replace obsolete equipment, introduce industry-grade engineering facilities, and modernise laboratory ecosystems in 37 polytechnics nationwide. The intervention, funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), also covers the ongoing Skills Development Intervention and the planned upgrade of engineering workshops in selected institutions.
“These initiatives represent a significant federal investment aimed at aligning technical training with labour market demands. Our objective is not merely infrastructure development, but the transformation of facilities into engines of practical skill acquisition and innovation,” Dr Alausa said.
He noted that the programme will equip laboratories in priority areas such as mechatronics, robotics, renewable energy, telecommunications, electronics, and automobile engineering, ensuring students train with tools and systems used in real industrial environments.
Dr Alausa further stated that the reform will promote dual certification pathways, enabling polytechnic graduates to earn their National Diploma (ND) or Higher National Diploma (HND) alongside recognised National Skills Qualification certificates. According to him, this approach will improve employability, deepen technical competence, and position graduates for opportunities within and outside Nigeria.
The Committee, chaired by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, is mandated to oversee the second phase of Skills-G, monitor ongoing interventions in 14 polytechnics, ensure proper procurement processes, maintain comprehensive records, and submit periodic reports to the Ministry and TETFund. It will also recommend institutions for the third phase scheduled for 2026.
The Minister underscored that accountability will be strictly enforced, warning that institutions that misuse intervention resources risk sanctions. He emphasised that equipment procurement must align with institutional strengths, manpower capacity, and national workforce priorities to ensure measurable impact and eliminate past inefficiencies.
In his remarks, Professor Bugaje described the inauguration as a pivotal moment for engineering education in Nigeria. He recalled that the first phase of the Skills-G intervention, implemented between 2011 and 2013, upgraded equipment and trained technologists in selected institutions. However, rapid technological advancement and digitalisation have made further upgrades necessary.
He stated that the second phase, already planned and budgeted, will cover 37 polytechnics and commence under the committee’s supervision. He also highlighted Nigeria’s engagement with international engineering accords, including the Washington, Sydney, and Dublin Accords, as evidence of the country’s commitment to benchmarking its qualifications against global standards.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to financing and supporting the initiative. He explained that the Skills-G programme is rooted in an established international partnership and that procurement processes have been aligned with the Federal Government’s local content policy to ensure sustainability and broader national participation.
The Committee comprises senior officials and experts drawn from NBTE, TETFund, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and selected polytechnics, and is expected to commence work immediately.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated that the initiative forms part of a broader reform agenda to close skills gaps, strengthen laboratory ecosystems, and empower young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant expertise required in today’s technology-driven global economy.
Signed
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations
